"Run the ball and stop the run"

[Retired_NCO]

It starts in the trenches men.  You can not fake the funk but for so long. If either side of the scrimmage is a weakness for a team, it will be exploited. In the case for our panthers, it was an epic failure on both sides.  Honestly, by the final 5 or 6 games of the season, I suspect most would agree that we were likely the worst team in the league. We could no longer run the ball (even with McCaffery) and we were just plain horrible stopping the run. Hell, even our mediocre special teams collapsed.  

[Toomers]

3 minutes ago, NAS said:

Andy Reid does not want to run the ball.  He looks at running the ball for 5 yards as an opportunity lost to gain 15 yards through the air.  However, he uses it situationally to keep the defense honest and to run the clock down when needed. 

And it’s been a “knock” on him for 20 years. His teams hit a wall usually against physical teams in playoffs. 
 

  Anyone besides Reid? Maybe TB? That’s dynamic with no running game? That what we are shooting for? 

   

[Wolfcop]

Like a few have said, the best teams in football hang their hats on the same things.

[NAS]

4 minutes ago, Retired_NCO said:

It starts in the trenches men.  You can not fake the funk but for so long. If either side of the scrimmage is a weakness for a team, it will be exploited. In the case for our panthers, it was an epic failure on both sides.  Honestly, by the final 5 or 6 games of the season, I suspect most would agree that we were likely the worst team in the league. We could no longer run the ball (even with McCaffery) and we were just plain horrible stopping the run. Hell, even our mediocre special teams collapsed.  

I don't disagree, we need to be a physical team in the trenches.  What I'm questioning is the dogmatic old school thought of running the ball that stems from the days when you had crappy game manager QBs who couldn't throw the ball down the field consistently without turning it over.  I just hope that Rhule will be someone who adjusts his game-plan based on the opposition and utilizes analytics to his advantage. 

[stan786]

I think there is a difference in running the ball constantly and running the ball effectively, and I think he understands the difference.  Its more of a offensive line/defensive line and imposing your will mentality thing he wants to build, mental toughness and persevering when you back is against the wall etc.

On playcalling his teams were usually right around 50/50 run/pass in college which is definitely balanced, but the nfl is as a whole more biased toward passing than that. He's gonna have to be open to throwing more than 50/50 which to me hes shown hes smart enough to understand.  Overall I think the mentality he has wins, I do wish he was a little more vocal about the benefits of passing though.

[Varking]

5 minutes ago, stan786 said:

I think there is a difference in running the ball constantly and running the ball effectively, and I think he understands the difference.  Its more of a offensive line/defensive line and imposing your will mentality thing he wants to build, mental toughness and persevering when you back is against the wall etc.

On playcalling his teams were usually right around 50/50 run/pass in college which is definitely balanced, but the nfl is as a whole more biased toward passing than that. He's gonna have to be open to throwing more than 50/50 which to me hes shown hes smart enough to understand.  Overall I think the mentality he has wins, I do wish he was a little more vocal about the benefits of passing though.

I have pointed out many times already regarding his playcalling... they ran the ball a ton once they had the lead and it often wasn't run well. They also pounded the rock a ton with QBs in college. He only had a 1k yard rusher 1 time in 7 years as a head coach. His QB lead the team like three times in rushing attempts while averaging like 2.6-3.1 yards per carry. Like 4 times out of 7 years his leading rusher had less than 700 rushing yards. His history has shown throw the ball to get a lead and then once you have it rely on solid defense and pound the rock to kill clock. It was like that at Temple and like that at Baylor, too. He runs his QBs so much his Baylor QB is basically dead now. 

[stan786]

8 minutes ago, Varking said:

I have pointed out many times already regarding his playcalling... they ran the ball a ton once they had the lead and it often wasn't run well. They also pounded the rock a ton with QBs in college. He only had a 1k yard rusher 1 time in 7 years as a head coach. His QB lead the team like three times in rushing attempts while averaging like 2.6-3.1 yards per carry. Like 4 times out of 7 years his leading rusher had less than 700 rushing yards. His history has shown throw the ball to get a lead and then once you have it rely on solid defense and pound the rock to kill clock. It was like that at Temple and like that at Baylor, too. He runs his QBs so much his Baylor QB is basically dead now. 

Yeah I dont disagree about his college offenses.  I also agree with you hes clearly not a true offensive mind, but I think he admits that as well.  I'm really interested in who his NFL OC is, I'm a lot more confident if its Ryan than if its his guys from Baylor.  

[Varking]

17 minutes ago, stan786 said:

Yeah I dont disagree about his college offenses.  I also agree with you hes clearly not a true offensive mind, but I think he admits that as well.  I'm really interested in who his NFL OC is, I'm a lot more confident if its Ryan than if its his guys from Baylor.  

I don't see him bringing his Baylor OC to the NFL with him. Their offenses were top 50 just once. DC makes sense because of how well they meshed together but the offense was only solid one year. 

[stan786]

2 minutes ago, Varking said:

I don't see him bringing his Baylor OC to the NFL with him. Their offenses were top 50 just once. DC makes sense because of how well they meshed together but the offense was only solid one year. 

Thats my view as well, if its Ryan I think based on where his experience is we'll have a fairly modern offense.  I do worry about the stalling of the offense after we get a lead to run out the clock that you mention here though for sure.

[lightsout]

Best way to help your OL that struggles in pass pro? Have them impose their will physically on the DL by run blocking effectively and tiring them out. Slows the rush, helps the OL keep them off the QB.

Running the ball IS football. It's the roots of the game. It's something that can't be chucked out in favor of throwing 50+ times a game. Teams that can't run will not sustain success. Period. And defenses that can't stop the run will not succeed either.

Being the most physical team on the field is a necessity for winning football. Rhule gets that. That is what is exciting to me.

[Wes21]

If you can run the football, it changes how exotic the defense can get with its pass rush schemes.  Its a passing teams best weapon.